Friday, 28 May 2010

Friends, Romans, Countrymen

Had a wonderful night out with Charlie to celebrate our first 1000 days of being married. First a yummy dinner at Cantina Vinopolis, where I had steak tartare and the most succulent duck in the world.

Then we went to the Globe Theatre, a most beautiful reconstruction of the original building. We had seats in a box to watch Henry VIII. It was a good story which we mostly followed, interesting to me mostly because of its portrayal of women:

- Catherine of Aragon - the dutiful wife, betrayed by her love (the king) due to politics and patriarchy (she had not born him a son, I believe she did have one son that died in infancy)

- Anne Boleyn - Feels badly for the Queen, but her principles are not strong enough to pull away from the king.

- The baby Elizabeth - In the play, presumably written around the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the baby girl is celebrated as a gift. You cannot help but think the grumpy king who was so desparate for a male heir was not so pleased as he was portrayed as being on finding he had another daughter, even though she would reign for so many years.

All in all, a great evening, and I can highly recommend an evening at the Globe.